BATON ROUGE, LA - United States Attorney Brandon J. Fremin announced that U.S. District Judge John W. deGravelles sentenced THANH TRAN, age 41, of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, to 40 months in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute marijuana, and an additional 24 months for a 2008 conviction for conspiracy to distribute MDMA from which he was on supervised release.
In September 2017, Baton Rouge Police Department (“BRPD") narcotics detectives received information that TRAN was involved in the distribution of controlled substances. On Sept. 14, 2017, BRPD narcotics detectives conducted surveillance of TRAN at an apartment complex in Baton Rouge. They observed TRAN place two large black trash bags in the back of his BMW SUV and then drive away. When TRAN began driving erratically, the BRPD officers conducted a traffic stop in the 11300 block of Archery Drive in Baton Rouge.
TRAN told the BRPD officers that he had 15 lbs. of marijuana in his vehicle. When the officers searched the BMW SUV, they found approximately 30 lbs. of suspected marijuana and about $10,000 cash in the vehicle. The officers also found approximately $5,000 cash in TRAN’s pockets.
At the time of his arrest, TRAN was on supervised release from a previous federal conviction of conspiracy to distribute MDMA.
U. S. Attorney Fremin stated, “This prosecution is part of this office’s fight against habitual drug dealers and our efforts to keep our community free from illegal drugs. I congratulate our prosecutors, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Baton Rouge Police Department for their successful investigation and prosecution."
This matter was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Baton Rouge Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Brad Casey.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
